THE PRESIDENT: You know, it's interesting to come back down here
to the Gulf Coast. I tried to think back about what it was like the
first time I came after the storm hit. And I guess the -- my most vivid
recollection is the piles of rubble, literally debris stacked upon
debris. It was -- it's hard to believe then that I would be -- I had
faith that I'd be able to come to a home, but I had trouble visualizing.
And then I kept coming down and I watched the improvement, because of
the hard work of the local citizens, people like the Mayor here and the
Governor, who set a vision that was a hopeful vision.

The federal government's role has been to write checks. The
Governor's role and the Mayor's role is help to expedite the federal
money to the local folks. And today, we are able to sit in a homeowner
-- the word is "home." Again, one of the things I like to say is, when
somebody walks in, welcome to my home. And it has a special ring to it
here in the Gulf Coast, because there was a time when their home was
totally destroyed.

Part of the reason I've come down is to tell the people here in the
Gulf Coast that we still think about them in Washington, and that we
listen to the Governor when he speaks. The other reason I've come down
is I want the taxpayers of the United States to see firsthand what their
money has done to help revitalize a series of communities that were
literally wiped out because of a major storm.

It's a -- this is a hopeful day. There's obviously a lot more work
to be done. You can see vacant lots where there's going to be new
building. There's still work to be done here in Mississippi, and the
Governor and I are going to go listen to some of the local officials
describe to me what's on their mind and how we can continue to help.
But times are changing for the better, and people's lives are improving,
and there is hope. And I congratulate the good folks in this part of
the country for their resiliency, their courage, and the fact that they
never abandoned hope.

So thank you for giving us a chance to come by. We're proud to be
with you. Love being with you. Thank you all for your hospitality.
Appreciate it. Thank you all.